NUMBER 13-19-00017-CR

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG

JOHNNY MACK DURHAM JR., Appellant,

v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee.

On appeal from the 24th District Court

of Victoria County, Texas.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Before Chief Justice Contreras and Justices Longoria and Perkes

Memorandum Opinion by Justice Perkes

Appellant Johnny Mack Durham Jr. appeals his conviction of felony murder, a firstdegree felony. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.02(b)(3). Durham raises six issues on

appeal, which we have reorganized and renumbered as follows: (1) the trial court was

without jurisdiction to preside over his case; (2) the evidence was factually insufficient to 
2

support a finding of competency; (3) the evidence was legally insufficient to convict

Durham of felony murder; (4) in failing to allow evidence of Durham’s drug test results, 

the trial court “deprived [him] of his constitutional right to have a jury instruction for

intoxication manslaughter”; (5) “the jury charge was egregious”; and (6) the State failed

to present “evidence legally or factually sufficient to support [a] prior conviction.” We

affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

On the morning of April 28, 2018, Lawrence Henry Christ Jr. was working at a car

show in Victoria when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Durham in the car show

parking lot. Christ succumbed to his injuries two hours later at the hospital.

Durham was indicted on July 26, 2018, and he was charged with murder with a

habitual felony offender enhancement. See id. § 12.42(c)(1). Durham’s attorney filed a

motion for a competency examination on November 13, 2018, and following a

psychiatrist’s finding of competency, Durham filed an objection to the psychiatrist’s report.

The trial court held a competency jury trial on December 3, 2018.

A. Competency Trial

1. Defense’s Witnesses

Concepcion Durham, Durham’s wife, testified she has known Durham since middle

school, and they have been married for two years. On the morning of his arrest, “[h]e

seemed fine,” said Conception. However, she noticed a change in Durham when she

visited him at the jail a few days later. She said Durham had developed “a stuttering

problem,” and he experienced difficulty retaining or recalling information from prior recent

conversations. Durham told her he saw “shadows and stuff coming in and out of his room,”
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and he was convinced “they were trying to hurt him, the people would be mean to him, or

he would think that they were trying to poison his food.” Concepcion testified that Durham

did not identify who “they” were.

On cross-examination, Concepcion stated she was unaware that Durham

previously claimed loss of mental facilities and was found to be malingering when

evaluated for competency for criminal court proceedings in 2010. Concepcion 

acknowledged Durham’s speech and ability to converse fluctuated between phone calls,

and he was still able to communicate effectively through coherently written letters.

Ezra Torres, Conception’s eighteen-year-old daughter from a previous

relationship, visited Durham “two or three weeks” after his arrest. Torres testified Durham

claimed he did not recognize her and spoke “really slow” with a speech impediment. 

Torres stated it was a significant departure from his “really smart” and “really amazing

personality.” Torres testified Durham also wrote her letters while he was in jail. In the most

recent letter, Torres said Durham told her “how he’s very proud of [her], that for [her] to

take care of [her] mother, that he wants [her] to pursue [her] dream.” Torres stated the

letters were written legibly in cursive.

Durham’s cousin, Mikayla Franklin, also testified she noticed a change in Durham’s

comprehension skills and ability to converse. Though Durham “had a drug addiction all

[of] his life,” Franklin maintained, “[H]e [was] just like me and you. His speech was clear.

He was alert and oriented. He was normal.” Franklin visited Durham several months after

his arrest, and she said he could not remember who she was, “had some speech

impairment,” “kept stuttering,” and “had a hard time perceiving what [she] was asking

him.”
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2. State’s Witnesses

Lindsey Petru, Durham’s parole officer, testified she went to visit him at the jail

within a week of his arrest. Petru said Durham initially “claimed he didn’t understand” and

got “very upset and irate.” Petru testified, “He also began to stutter, and then he wouldn’t

stutter, and then would, again.” Petru maintained Durham “wanted to talk about his, his

charges and why he was there” rather than discuss his imminent parole revocation

hearing. Regardless, Petru opined Durham appeared to understand what she was

communicating regarding his parole revocation rights.

During the preliminary parole hearing, Petru testified Durham continued to speak

inconsistently; “he basically would speak normal and use larger words, and then in the

next sentence, he would stutter a bunch and use smaller words.” Petru surmised Durham

was “faking” his mental incapacity.

Vicky Crumliss, a nurse at the jail, testified she believed Durham was competent.

Crumliss said Durham asked “distinctive questions” on “sick calls,” 1 and he

“communicate[d] just fine.” In one sick call, she stated he asked for “his money back for

the meds,” indicating he did not want his commissary account charged for prescription

medications. In another call, she said “he asked for his diagnoses and his medications,

what the names of them were.” Crumliss said Durham never stuttered in front of her; “[he]

only starts stuttering whenever he’s in front of someone like the doctor.” On crossexamination, Crumliss conceded her interactions with Durham had been limited to when

she was dispensing medication or when he was in the infirmary.

1 Crumliss explained that during “sick calls,” she administered prescription medications to inmates.
5

Victoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Green testified he was a courtroom bailiff

during a child support matter in October, wherein Durham was present. Green witnessed

Durham ask the judge if he could represent himself during proceedings. Green noted that

Durham appropriately addressed the court and did not appear to have any visible

handicaps. 

On November 15, 2018, Joel Kutnick, M.D., a court-appointed psychiatrist,

completed a competency evaluation of Durham. Dr. Kutnick testified that following the

evaluation, he reviewed “multiple records,” including jail phone calls made by Durham,

and spoke with “individuals who had knowledge about the defendant.” Dr. Kutnick

concluded Durham was malingering:

[I]n my interview, he says, “I don’t know how old I am. I don’t know my birth

date. I don’t know where I was born.” . . . He talked about hallucinations,

seeing things, that he had no memory, although he denied he had the drug

abuse. He, he came across—as I was interviewing him, he came across as

either in a [state of] severe dementia or retardation.

According to Dr. Kutnick, in addition to not knowing basic identifying information

about himself, Durham was unable to do rudimentary math.2 However, Dr. Kutnick noted

2 Dr. Kutnick referenced his report at trial:

He was asked how old he was and what his birthdate was. He has been told his birthday

is at the same time as his girlfriend’s. The[n] he stated his girlfriend was actually his wife. I

then asked him what the date was[,] and[,] he began thinking about it. Eventually, he

answered, “1001, 1-90.” He then stated these numbers were on his watch.

He is not certain where he was born. He doesn’t remember how far he got in school. He

claims he cannot read or write very well.

. . .

Since he came across as being [intellectually disabled], I wanted to see if he could count

out money. He told me he does not know how to count out money when he goes to the

store. I gave him an example. I asked him how much money he would get back if he had

a dollar bill and spent 50 cents. He immediately stated, “I can’t do that.”
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that Durham’s presentation during the evaluation was clinically improbable and

inconsistent with Durham’s reported communications with others.

[P]eople who have dementia, they first lose short-term memory first, and

then as they get sicker and sicker[,] long-term memory. . . . but if you can’t

remember your—how old you are, your date of birth, but then you can

remember about a document that you wanted from the parole officer, that

just doesn’t make clinical sense.

Dr. Kutnick opined that Durham’s actions within days of his arrest demonstrated

“[h]e has the cognitive capacity to understand the adversarial nature” of these

proceedings. Durham invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to speak to police.

While in custody, he made requests for certain defense attorneys.

3 Medical records were

also read into the record by Dr. Kutnick, which indicated that Durham “appears remorseful

and wants to go to the man that was hurt.” Dr. Kutnick added there was also no medical

history present to signify “something happened to his brain” to make him as “cognitively

impaired” as he presented himself during the evaluation.

Following the evaluation, Dr. Kutnick testified that he realized he had conducted a

competency evaluation of Durham in 2010 and provided a diagnosis of malingering and 

antisocial personality disorder. Dr. Kutnick summarily testified, “[I]f I could wipe away all

of the exaggeration, does [Durham] have some mental difficulties[?] [M]aybe, but not to

the point that I felt like that would make him incompetent.”

Dr. Kutnick further commented on Durham’s present demeanor at trial, stating

Durham has shown he is able to follow the judge’s instructions, partake in the

proceedings, and communicate with his attorney.

The jury returned a finding of competence, and the case proceeded to trial. 

3 In jail call recordings, Durham can be heard requesting defense attorneys by name.
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B. Jury Trial

Jon Szmagalski testified he was on the phone with a friend on the morning of April

28, 2018, when he witnessed a vehicle nearly cause multiple accidents. “He was coming

the opposite direction from—it’s a, it’s a six-lane road with a median. . . . [F]rom his middle

lane, he turned perpendicular to that turn lane and stopped. . . . The rear-end of his car

was still in a traffic lane.” Szmagalski said the driver subsequently pulled behind a

semitruck, directly in front of Szmagalski’s vehicle, before moving to the far-right lane. “As

I was passing him, he just came back all the way over across three lanes and forced me

to the median,” testified Szmagalski, whose cell phone audio recording4 was admitted at

trial. Szmagalski said the driver was on his cell phone and appeared distracted.

According to Szmagalski, the driver weaved across several lanes “at least four or

five times” and caused a semitruck to “lock up his brakes and somewhat jackknife in the

road,” before the vehicle turned off the road and pulled into the Citizens Medical Center

(CMC) parking lot where a car show was being held.

Surveillance footage from CMC, as well as cell phone camera recordings taken by

witnesses, were admitted into evidence. Several witnesses testified they saw a vehicle

matching the description provided by Szmagalski drive recklessly in the CMC parking lot

before running over Christ and striking multiple parked vehicles.

Juan Ramirez, the owner of a food truck operating at the car show, testified he

heard an 18-wheeler blow its horn and then shortly after, he saw a car “coming up . . . kind

of fast” inside the CMC parking lot. Ramirez testified he saw a man “hollering,” trying to

get the vehicle to stop. The vehicle finally stopped and the man “[s]lammed the hood [of

4 Szmagalski testified he recorded all cell phone calls as part of his job.
8

the vehicle] once.” Ramirez said he saw the vehicle “bump” the “man’s knees twice.” The

man then moved over, “the car rev[ved] up,” and Ramirez watched the man go

“underneath the car.”

Isaac Solis testified he was “just looking at the cars,” when a vehicle drove by him

“going too fast.” Solis said he just felt “something [was] going to develop” so he took out

his cell phone and started recording. He testified he saw a man running towards the

vehicle, trying to get the driver’s attention. Solis said the man said, “‘Cut off your car.

What’s wrong with you?’” The car stopped, and Solis said he witnessed a man, later

identified as Christ, position himself at the front of the vehicle and hit the hood. Solis then

saw the vehicle run Christ over.

Linda Delgado-Cierra testified she also captured footage. Delgado-Cierra said the

vehicle came to a complete stop and then drove into Christ after he had walked to the

driver’s side of the vehicle. She testified it appeared as if the driver meant to strike Christ.

Roy Gutierrez, the car show chairman, testified he was checking on vendors when

a vehicle drove by him “at a high rate of speed” and “almost hit [him].” Gutierrez,

accompanied by Douglas Jensen and Christ, rushed to flag down the driver. Gutierrez

said Christ “was waving his hands, saying, ‘Hey, stop,’ trying to get [the driver’s] attention.”

Gutierrez testified the car pulled over and stopped, and Gutierrez situated himself behind

the vehicle to take a picture of the license plate.

Douglas testified that he, Christ, and Gutierrez had run up to Durham’s vehicle, 

trying to get Durham “to put it in park and then to cooperate and get out.” Douglas believed

Durham “was being rational and obliging” up and until Durham turned his wheels in

Christ’s direction and ran him over. Douglas’s wife, Dana, testified that throughout this
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interaction, the driver never rolled down his windows; after he stopped his vehicle, he

“s[at] with his hands clenched on the wheel and star[ed] straightforward,” before he turned

his steering wheel, struck Christ, and attempted to drive away.

Anica and Albert Aragon, owners of a food truck operating during the car show,

testified they also witnessed the vehicle hit Christ. Anica testified Christ had done nothing

threatening to warrant the driver’s actions. Anica said the vehicle had come to a complete

stop, then the driver “[h]it the gas and moved up towards him, and [Christ] tried to move

out of the way, and the guy turned his wheels, and he literally ran over him.” Anica 

testified, “[Christ’s] legs got caught up by the driver’s left wheel, and it pulled him under,

and it rolled over him. . . . He didn’t stop, try to stop.” Albert described Christ as “[g]asping

for air,” and bleeding “[o]ut of his ears and mouth, nose” after he was struck. 

Stephen Pierce, an off-duty state trooper, testified he “heard commotion” and then

saw a “tan or gold colored passenger car driving away” from where a man, who had

“obviously been run over,” was lying on the ground. Pierce said the vehicle made “a Uturn towards the end of the pa[r]king lot. . . . struck a red Ford, a little T-bucket, . . . a black

Camaro and came to rest under a blue canopy.” Pierce said that he and Thomas Matusek

then worked to pull a “noncompliant” Durham out of the vehicle. Matusek testified he put

the vehicle in park and pulled out the keys while Pierce crawled into the back seat to get

Durham, who was “backing up” and “kicking”, out. Matusek described Durham as

“combative and wanting to try to get away.” Matusek said he tripped Durham to get him

onto the ground, where Pierce used a belt to restrain him until law enforcement arrived.

Victoria Police Department (VPD) collision investigator Brian Knief testified the

airbags in Durham’s vehicle never deployed, and he opined it was likely due to the
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vehicle’s low rate of speed at impact. Knief said he also viewed the video recordings of

the accident. Because the vehicle was stationary before Christ was struck; Christ, a 6’2”

man wearing a neon t-shirt, was difficult to miss; and Christ was not located in front of the

vehicle, Knief opined Durham’s actions—turning the wheel to Christ’s direction, moving

at a “low speed,” and running over Christ beginning with his feet and ending with his

head—evidenced a “conscious objective moment.”

VPD officer Christian Perez testified law enforcement believed Durham was under

the influence, and Perez transported Durham to CMC to obtain a blood specimen. Perez

testified that after he admonished Durham of his rights, Durham responded by calling him

a “motherf*cker” and refused consent. Officers thereafter retrieved a blood warrant.

James Evans, a former forensic scientist at the Department of Public Safety,

testified there was no alcohol detected, and the sample was released to a laboratory in

Austin to test for other substances. No other results were admitted at trial. 

Suzanna Dana, M.D., a forensic pathologist, performed Christ’s autopsy. Dr. Dana

noted that the “life threatening injuries to [Christ’s] head and body” corresponded with

being run over by a vehicle. Dr. Dana testified she watched the video where the vehicle

can be seen running over Christ’s feet, legs, pelvis, abdomen, and then head.

[H]e died from multiple traumatic injuries due to blunt force. He had injuries

to his head, mainly the head and skull and the brain, and then he had the

injuries to the chest and the pelvic region due to that pressure coming

across the right side of his body. He had the closed fracture of his right lower

leg, and then he had all those scattered injuries external, the abrasions and

bruises related to the blunt force injury.

. . . .

He had a lot of internal injuries in the chest and abdomen. One the most

significant of which was his whole rib cage was just crushed, so he had

multiple fractures on both the right and the left.
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Dr. Dana opined that the manner of death was homicide.

Durham called one witness as part of his case-in-chief, Dustin Cabrera. Cabrera

testified he was helping with his uncle’s food truck on the day of the accident. “I knew they

were saying to slow down. There were kids around the car show. . . . And just yelling,”

said Cabrera. According to Cabrera, “four or five” men surrounded Durham’s car, “[Christ]

hit the hood of the car, and then that’s when it kind of all happened.” Cabrera was shown

a video on cross-examination, and he conceded that there only appeared to be two staff

members close to the vehicle and three other watching persons nearby. Cabrera testified,

“They were being forcefully—telling this gentleman to leave,” but stopped short of calling

Christ’s actions threatening. “I don’t know about threatening,” said Cabrera.

The jury returned a guilty verdict and assessed punishment at forty years’

confinement. This appeal followed.

II. JURISDICTION

Durham raises several arguments regarding the trial court’s lack of jurisdiction to

preside over his case: (1) Judge Robert Bell was without authority to preside over the

case because his “term had not begun as of date of trial to take the bench”; and (2) Judge

Bell “did not hear the testimony of the witnesses for Appellant’s competency hearing,”

and thus, his competency order is “void.” 5 At the outset, we observe that a lack of

jurisdiction is fundamental error and is appealable at any time, even if, as here, it is raised

5 Durham also claims by a single sentence: “The unofficial removal of Judge Garza an[d] installing

[of] a ‘known racially bias [sic] judge’ was an abuse of discretion by Judge Bell and deprived Appellant . . . a

valuable constitutional safeguard.” Durham, however, has not provided any legal analysis, authority, or

argument in support of this assertion. Without a substantive analysis or supporting authorities, an issue

cannot be adequately evaluated and will be overruled. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i); Rocha v. State, 16

S.W.3d 1, 20 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000) (explaining that arguments that fail to cite to authority in support of

claim present nothing for review).
12

for the first time on appeal. Stine v. State, 908 S.W.2d 429, 431 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).

Both parties agree that Durham’s case was originally filed in Victoria County in the

24th/377th Judicial District, and Judge Bell is the presiding judge for the 267th Judicial

District. Although Durham asserts that the 24th/377th Judicial District does not “hear”

cases from Victoria County, he is incorrect. See TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 24.125 (“The

24th Judicial District is composed of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio, and

Victoria counties.”); id. § 24.522(a) (“The 377th Judicial District is composed of Victoria

County.”). Moreover, Judge Bell, as the presiding judge of 267th Judicial District, also

hears cases from Victoria County. See id. § 24.444 (“The 267th Judicial District is

composed of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio, and Victoria counties.”).

Further, more than one judge may exercise authority over a single case, sit for another

district court in the same county and hear and determine any case or proceeding pending

in that court, and “exchange districts, or hold courts for each other when they may deem

it expedient.” TEX. CONST. art. V, § 11; see TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 24.003; see also Hull

v. S. Coast Catamarans, L.P., 365 S.W.3d 35, 41 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011,

pet. denied). The Texas Government Code provides, in applicable part, as follows:

(a) This section applies only to counties with two or more district courts.

(b) Unless provided otherwise by the local rules of administration, a district

judge in the county may:

. . .

(2) hear and determine any case or proceeding pending in another

district court in the county without having the case transferred;

(3) sit for another district court in the county and hear and determine

any case or proceeding pending in that court;
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(4) temporarily exchange benches with the judge of another district

court in the county;

. . .

(6) occupy the judge’s own courtroom or the courtroom of another

district court in the county.

. . .

(d) A district judge in the county may hear and determine any part or

question of any case or proceeding pending in any of the district courts, and

any other district judge may complete the hearing and render judgment in

the case or proceeding.

TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 24.003; see also Luna v. State, No. 13-18-00152-CR, 2019 WL

3227261, at *1–2 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg July 18, 2019, pet. ref’d) (mem.

op., not designated for publication) (“Pursuant to the exchange of benches section in the

government code, district judges have wide discretion to temporarily exchange benches

with the judge of another district court in the county, hear and determine matters pending

in other district courts within the county . . .”). Nothing in § 24.003 of the Texas

Government Code or article V, § 11 of the Texas Constitution requires a written order or

explanation for an exchange of benches by district judges. See Mata v. State, 669 S.W.2d

119, 121 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984); In re Rio Grande Valley Gas Co., 987 S.W.2d 167, 175

(Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg 1999, orig. proceeding) (en banc); see also Luna,

2019 WL 3227261, at *1–2.

We take judicial notice that Judge Bell was appointed into office on August 5, 2016,

and he has since remained on the bench as the presiding judge for the 267th Judicial

District. See TEX. R. EVID. 201(b); Sharpe v. State, 490 S.W.2d 834, 836 (Tex. Crim. App.

1973) (“Judicial notice is taken of the system of courts of this state, their jurisdiction, terms

and operation, and the judges and other officers thereof.”) (citations omitted); see also
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Herrod v. State, 650 S.W.2d 814, 817 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983) (“While this record does not

so reflect, we can take judicial notice that Judge Ed Gossett retired as a district judge on

December 31, 1976, and timely filed his election to continue in a judicial capacity as

shown by the records of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.”); Gannaway

ex rel. Estate of Gannaway v. Pena, No. 13-99-00426-CV, 2002 WL 441993, at *3 (Tex.

App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Mar. 21, 2002, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for

publication) (taking judicial notice of a judge’s authority to preside over a case).

Accordingly, under § 24.003 of the government code and article V, § 11 of the

Texas Constitution, Judge Bell had jurisdiction to preside over Durham’s case. See TEX.

CONST. art. V, § 11; TEX. GOV’T CODE ANN. § 24.003; Mata, 669 S.W.2d at 121; see also 

In re McGuire, 134 S.W.3d 406, 409–10 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004, orig. proceeding).

Durham’s subsidiary claim that Judge Bell was without authority to sign the

competency order because he was not present for the competency trial is similarly settled.

The reporter’s record—and paradoxically, Durham’s brief—indicates Judge Bell was

presiding over the case throughout the entire duration of the competency trial. We

therefore decline to engage in an analysis of the limitations of the “free exchange of

benches.” See Hull, 365 S.W.3d at 41. We overrule Durham’s first issue.

III. COMPETENCY

By his second issue, Durham argues the evidence was insufficient to support a 

finding of competency.

A criminal defendant who is incompetent may not be put to trial without violating

due process. Turner v. State, 422 S.W.3d 676, 688–89 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (Turner I).

Under our statutory scheme, “a defendant is presumed competent to stand trial and shall
15

be found competent to stand trial unless proved incompetent by a preponderance of the

evidence.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.003(a). A person is incompetent to stand

trial if the person does not have: “(1) sufficient present ability to consult with the person’s

lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding; or (2) a rational as well as

factual understanding of the proceedings against the person.” Id. art. 46B.003(a)(1)–(2).

In Morris v. State, the Court of Criminal Appeals elaborated on the evidence considered

in a competency hearing:

Evidence related to [article 46B.003] issues includes whether a defendant

can (1) understand the charges against him and the potential consequences

of the pending criminal proceedings; (2) disclose to counsel pertinent facts,

events, and states of mind; (3) engage in a reasoned choice of legal

strategies and options; (4) understand the adversarial nature of the criminal

proceedings; (5) exhibit appropriate courtroom behavior; and (6) testify.

301 S.W.3d 281, 285–87 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009); see Turner v. State, 570 S.W.3d 250,

262 (Tex. Crim. App. 2018) (Turner II). A defendant’s competency to stand trial is a

question of fact to be determined by the appropriate factfinder, which, in this case, was a

competency jury. Turner II, 570 S.W.3d at 262.

On appeal, the correct standard of review is whether after considering all the

evidence relevant to the issue at hand, the finding of competency is so against the great

weight and preponderance of the evidence so as to be manifestly unjust. Meraz v. State,

785 S.W.2d 146, 155 (Tex. Crim. App. 1990); Perez v. State, 583 S.W.3d 762, 764–65

(Tex. App.—El Paso 2019, no pet.); Galvan v. State, 324 S.W.3d 233, 235 (Tex. App.—

Eastland 2010, pet. ref’d); Williams v. State, 191 S.W.3d 242, 248–51 (Tex. App.—Austin

2006, no pet.). We view the entirety of the evidence in a neutral light and defer to the

jury’s credibility determinations. Perez, 583 S.W.3d at 764–65; Lasiter v. State, 283

S.W.3d 909, 916–17 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2009, pet. ref’d) (“[T]he jury is the judge of
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the credibility of the witnesses at the competency hearing and the weight to give to the

testimony.”). We may sustain an appellant’s factual sufficiency claim only if, after setting

out all the relevant evidence and explaining precisely how the contrary evidence greatly

outweighs the evidence supporting the verdict, we clearly state why the verdict is so much

against the great weight of the evidence so as to be manifestly unjust, conscienceshocking, or clearly biased. Matlock v. State, 392 S.W.3d 662, 671 (Tex. Crim. App. 

2013). 

Durham’s relatives each uniformly testified that Durham spoke “slowly” and with a

“stutter,” in contrast to his known speech pattern prior to his arrest. They also opined that

he appeared to have difficulty understanding questions or recalling basic information. Yet, 

his wife conceded that Durham’s ability to converse fluctuated between phone calls, and

both she and Torres testified Durham was still able to communicate effectively through

legibly written, coherent letters.

The jury was free to reject the conflicting opinions of Durham’s relatives if, for

example, they believed the opinions were prejudiced by their associations or that Durham

had intentionally exaggerated the degree of his impairment in light of the contravening 

evidence. See Perez, 583 S.W.3d at 764–65; Lasiter, 283 S.W.3d at 916–17. For 

example, Dr. Kutnick testified that though Durham initially “came across as either in a

[state of] severe dementia or retardation,” Durham’s presentation during the evaluation 

was in contrast to his medical records, jail phone call recordings, and information provided 

by his parole officer and nurse. Petru and Crumliss indicated that Durham was able to 

communicate without issue regarding parole and medical issues, respectively, and both 

believed Durham to be “faking” his incompetency. Dr. Kutnick noted that Durham’s 
17

speech and communication abilities varied inconsistently in jail phone call recordings, and 

Durham was able to relay information clearly in written format—despite claiming during 

the evaluation that he could not read or write.

Moreover, Dr. Kutnick testified Durham appeared to understand the adversarial

nature of criminal proceedings. See Morris, 301 S.W.3d at 285–87. There was evidence

via his medical records and his purported interactions with law enforcement that Durham

had no difficulty communicating or expressing comprehension of the situation

immediately following his arrest. Dr. Kutnick further opined that he observed Durham 

throughout the competency trial and noted Durham’s perceived ability to listen to the trial 

court, retain information provided by the court, appropriately address the trial court when 

needed, and follow the trial court’s orders in the interim. Dr. Kutnick expressed his opinion

that Durham was malingering, Durham had a rational as well as a factual understanding

of the proceedings against him, and Durham had a sufficient present ability to consult

with his attorney. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.003. The jury here could have

reasonably concluded, as the State asserted, that Durham modified his behavior and

appearance for his competency examination and periodically while speaking with

relatives, and thus, Durham was competent to stand trial. See Turner II, 570 S.W.3d at

262; Perez, 583 S.W.3d at 764–65. 

After considering the evidence presented during the competency hearing, we

conclude that the jury’s finding is not so against the great weight and preponderance of

the evidence as to be manifestly unjust. See Turner II, 570 S.W.3d at 262; Meraz, 785 

S.W.2d at 155. Durham’s second issue is overruled.
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IV. CONVICTION

Durham next argues the evidence was legally insufficient to convict him of the

offense of felony murder because the state failed to prove he committed an act clearly

dangerous to human life or that he “did any act intentionally and knowingly to cause the

death of [Christ].”

In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, we consider 

the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine whether any rational 

trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable 

doubt. Stahmann v. State, 602 S.W.3d 573, 577 (Tex. Crim. App. 2020) (citing Jackson

v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). We resolve any evidentiary inconsistencies in favor 

of the verdict, keeping in mind that the jury is the exclusive judge of the facts, the credibility 

of the witnesses, and the weight to give their testimony. Id.; see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC.

ANN. art. 38.04.

Sufficiency of the evidence is measured by the elements of the offense as defined 

by a hypothetically correct jury charge. Metcalf v. State, 597 S.W.3d 847, 856 (Tex. Crim. 

App. 2020) (citing Malik v. State, 953 S.W.2d 234, 240 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)). When 

the jury charge authorizes conviction on multiple theories of liability, we will sustain the

conviction if the evidence is sufficient to prove any of the theories submitted in the jury 

charge. Stahmann, 602 S.W.3d at 577 (citing Campbell v. State, 426 S.W.3d 780, 786 

(Tex. Crim. App. 2014)).

Here, a hypothetically correct charge would instruct the jury to find Durham guilty 

of felony murder as alleged if: (1) he committed or attempted to commit aggravated 

assault by threat or injury, and (2) in the course of and in furtherance of the commission 
19

or attempt, he committed or attempted to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life 

that caused Christ’s death. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.02(b)(3). The charge would 

further state that: a person commits aggravated assault by injury if he intentionally, 

knowingly, or recklessly causes serious bodily injury to another, id. §§ 22.01(a), 

22.02(a)(1); and a person commits the offense of aggravated assault by threat if he 

intentionally or knowingly “uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the 

assault” as defined in § 22.01. Id. §§ 22.01(a) (providing a person commits assault if the 

person “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another” or 

“intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury”), 22.02(a)(2).

“Bodily injury” means physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition. Id.

§ 1.07(a)(8). “Serious bodily injury” means bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of 

death or that causes death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or 

impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ. Id. § 1.07(a)(46). The “act 

clearly dangerous to human life” must be the cause of the victim’s death. Rodriguez v.

State, 454 S.W.3d 503, 507 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). Whether the act is clearly dangerous 

to human life is measured under an objective standard, not the subjective belief of the 

actor. Lugo–Lugo v. State, 650 S.W.2d 72, 81 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983); see also 

Boudreaux v. State, No. 14-18-00891-CR, 2020 WL 2214447, at *4 (Tex. App.—Houston 

[14th Dist.] May 7, 2020, pet. ref’d) (mem. op., not designated for publication). To be 

clearly dangerous to human life, the act need only threaten or risk a resulting death. See

Lugo–Lugo, 650 S.W.2d at 88.

Felony murder essentially is “unintentional” murder committed in the course of a 

felony. Rodriguez, 454 S.W.3d at 507; see O’Brien v. State, 544 S.W.3d 376, 388 n.45
20

(Tex. Crim. App. 2018) (observing that intentional and knowing aggravated assault can 

serve as the predicate felony for felony murder). In Lomax v. State, the court of criminal 

appeals pointedly observed it was “significant and largely dispositive that Section 

19.02(b)(3) omits a culpable mental state while the other two subsections in Section 

19.02(b) expressly require a culpable mental state.” 233 S.W.3d 302, 304 (Tex. Crim. 

App. 2007).

Durham does not dispute that he struck Christ or ran Christ over with his vehicle, 

but rather, he argues he lacked the requisite intent to “kill” because “one can reasonably 

assume” that he, “a black male, felt threaten[ed] being surrounded by at least three angry 

[sic] which two were white.” Durham, however, misstates the State’s burden. In charging 

Durham with felony murder, the State need only prove that Durham intentionally or 

knowingly committed or attempted to commit aggravated assault by threat or injury and 

in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempt, he committed an act 

“clearly dangerous to human life.” Compare TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 19.02(b)(1) with

id. §§ 19.02(b)(3) & 6.03(a)–(c); see Driver v. State, 358 S.W.3d 270, 279 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 2011, pet. ref’d) (“Under Lomax, felony murder requires no culpable 

mental state in causing the death of an individual”). 

Intent is a question of fact and therefore within the sole purview of the jury, and the 

jury may rely on its collective common sense and apply common knowledge and 

experience. Acosta v. State, 429 S.W.3d 621, 625 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). The evidence 

showed: (1) after nearly causing multiple vehicle collisions, Durham turned into the CMC 

parking lot where a car show was being held; (2) Durham continued to drive recklessly 

fast through a parking lot filled with families and children and almost struck an individual 
21

in attendance; (3) Durham stopped his vehicle only after he was flagged down by three 

men, two of which were wearing green neon shirts with the words “Staff” imprinted;

(4) Durham then, as Ramirez claimed, “bump[ed]” Christ’s “knees twice” with his vehicle, 

prompting Christ to move from the front of the vehicle to near the front left tire; (5) Durham 

“rev[ved] up,” turned his wheels in Christ’s direction, and hit Christ; (6) once Christ was 

down and the vehicle was over his lower half of his body, rather than stop his vehicle or 

maintain a straight path, Durham continued to turn his wheel in Christ’s direction, running 

over Christ’s abdomen, chest, and head; and (7) Durham then quickly accelerated and 

attempted to flee before crashing into several parked vehicles and coming to rest under 

an awning. Dr. Dana unequivocally testified that the injuries Christ sustained caused his 

death. A rational jury here could conclude, relying on its collective common sense and 

applying its collective common knowledge, Durham intentionally or knowingly committed 

or attempted to commit aggravated assault by threat or injury and in the course of and in 

furtherance of the commission or attempt, he committed an act “clearly dangerous to

human life.”

A rational jury could further conclude that Durham was aware that his actions—

i.e., driving at fast speeds in a parking lot, striking an individual with a vehicle, and slowly 

driving over an individual with an impact great enough to cause multiple blunt force 

injuries including multiple fractures all over the victim’s body—were reasonably likely to 

result in injury or death of a person. See, e.g., Stanley v. State, 470 S.W.3d 664, 672 

(Tex. App.—Dallas 2015, no pet.) (holding that a reasonable jury could have determined 

that traveling at 38 to 40 miles per hour after dark through the scene of an accident where 

emergency personnel were present, police lights were flashing, and traffic was being 
22

diverted was an act clearly dangerous to human life); see also Boudreaux, 2020 WL 

2214447, at *5 (affirming a felony murder conviction where evidence was sufficient to 

establish that appellant was the operator of the truck when it hit and killed a man, was 

aware that an accident had occurred, and was aware of the reasonable likelihood that 

someone may have been injured or killed in the accident); Sanders v. State, No. 06-14-

00079-CR, 2015 WL 4744406, at *1 (Tex. App.—Texarkana Aug. 12, 2015, pet. ref’d) 

(mem. op., not designated for publication) (upholding a felony murder conviction where 

defendant struck police officer while attempting to exit a parking lot).

Considering all the evidence presented to the jury, we conclude there is more than 

sufficient evidence to show Durham intentionally or knowingly committed or attempted to 

commit aggravated assault by threat or injury and in the course of and in furtherance of 

the commission or attempt, he committed an act “clearly dangerous to human life.” See

TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. §§ 19.02(b)(3), 22.01(a), 22.02(a)(2); Rodriguez, 454 S.W.3d at 

507; see also Boudreaux, 2020 WL 2214447, at *5. Thus, we conclude the evidence is 

legally sufficient to support Durham’s conviction for felony murder. We overrule issue 

three.

V. JURY CHARGE

By his fourth issue, Durham broadly argues that the jury charge contained error 

and caused him egregious harm. Durham takes issue with the “eleven different revisions

changing the definition of intentionally and knowing, which goes to mens rea or the

culpable mental state associated with the result of the defendant’s conduct” and the 

“general abstract provisions of the Charge of the Court given at the guilt/innocence phase

of the trial,” which he quotes in his brief:
23

A person commits the offense of “FELONY MURDER” if he commits or

attempts to commit a felony, other than manslaughter, and in the course of

and in furtherance of the commission or attempt, or in immediate flight from

the commission or attempt, he commits or attempts to commit an act clearly

dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.

The language, however, for both the “intentionally” and “knowingly” definitions, as well as 

the definition for felony murder follow the statute verbatim. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. 

§ 6.03(a) (providing the definition for intentionally), § 6.03(b) (providing the definition for 

knowingly); § 19.02(b)(3) (providing the definition for felony murder).

In any event, Durham provides no additional discussion beyond the 

aforementioned quoted statements or application of authority with respect to this issue.

See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i) (“The brief must contain a clear and concise argument for the

contention made, with appropriate citations to authorities and to the record.”). Thus, we 

conclude this issue has been inadequately briefed, and we overrule Durham’s fourth

issue.

VI. INTOXICATION MANSLAUGHTER

In a multifaceted fifth issue, Durham argues (1) the trial court erred in disallowing

evidence of “the results of his blood analysis . . . to establish intoxication manslaughter,”

thereby “depriv[ing] [him] of his constitutional right to have a jury instruction for intoxication

manslaughter”; and (2) his conviction violates the Double Jeopardy Clause.

A. Evidence Exclusion

Durham states in his brief that he “was not allowed to have on the record the results

of his blood analysis admitted as evidence to establish intoxication manslaughter.”

However, the State admitted the laboratory results of Durham’s blood draw at trial. To the

extent Durham is referring to his medical records, which indicated he was positive for
24

PCP and THC with no quantities specified, Durham’s trial counsel requested that the

records be excluded from evidence. Thus, Durham’s evidentiary exclusion issue is 

without merit. See TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a) (regarding preservation of error).

B. Lesser-Included Offense

We construe Durham’s subsidiary claim as a request for the lesser-included 

offense of intoxication manslaughter. 

A trial judge has a duty to prepare a jury charge that accurately sets out the law

applicable to the specific offense charged. Delgado v. State, 235 S.W.3d 244, 249 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2007); see TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 36.14. A jury instruction on a

lesser-included offense, however, is not required absent a request by the defense for its

inclusion in the jury charge. See Mendez v. State, 545 S.W.3d 548, 552 (Tex. Crim. App. 

2018); Tolbert v. State, 306 S.W.3d 776, 781 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). In other words, a 

trial judge does not have a duty to sua sponte instruct the jury on lesser-included offenses.

Mendez, 545 S.W.3d at 552. Accordingly, a defendant cannot complain on appeal about

the trial judge’s failure to include a lesser-included-offense instruction “that he did not

preserve by request or objection: he has procedurally defaulted any such complaint.”

Vega v. State, 394 S.W.3d 514, 519 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); see also TEX. CODE CRIM.

PROC. art. 36.14 (“Before said charge is read to the jury, the defendant or his counsel 

shall have a reasonable time to examine the same and he shall present his objections 

thereto in writing, distinctly specifying each ground of objection.”). 

Durham made no request for a lesser-included-offense instruction at trial. 6

Therefore, there is no error. See Mendez, 545 S.W.3d at 552 (“[A] trial court does not err 

6 Durham’s charge objections were as follows: 
25

by failing to instruct the jury on an issue that was, by virtue of the defendant’s silence, 

simply inapplicable to the case.”); see also TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a). As such, we reject this 

argument.

C. Double Jeopardy

Durham additionally argues he “falls into the third category prohibited by Bigon: he

has been punished twice for the same offense,” in violation of the Double Jeopardy

Clause.

7 See U.S. CONST. amend. V.; Bigon v. State, 252 S.W.3d 360, 369–70 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2008). However, Durham’s argument is limited to this single assertion and 

lacks appropriate citations to authorities and to the record. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i) 

(“The brief must contain a clear and concise argument for the contention made, with 

appropriate citations to authorities and to the record.”). We conclude this issue has been 

inadequately briefed.8 Accordingly, we overrule Durham’s fifth issue in each of its parts.

VII. ENHANCEMENT

By his last issue, Durham challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting

one of the State’s enhancement paragraphs.

Generally, if it is shown on the trial of a felony of the first degree that the defendant

has previously been finally convicted of a felony other than a state jail felony, on conviction

Judge, we would object to the phrase “or in immediate flight from the commission or 

attempt,” under the felony murder application paragraph. And we would object to the order 

of the verdict forms. We would ask that “not guilty” be first, in keeping with the presumption 

of innocence. Other than that, we have no addition or requested instructions.

7 The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment prohibits the punishment of an accused in 

a second trial when the accused has already been convicted or acquitted of that crime, and it forbids 

punishing an accused more than once for the same offense in a single prosecution. See U.S. CONST.

amend. V; Loving v. State, 401 S.W.3d 642, 646 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).

8 We additionally note that Durham does not cite to and we have not found evidence in the record

that Durham was tried or punished more than once for the death of Christ. See Loving, 401 S.W.3d at 646.
26

the defendant shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal

Justice for life, or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 15 years. TEX. PENAL

CODE ANN. § 12.42(c).

In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a finding that an

enhancement allegation is true, we consider all the evidence in the light most favorable

to the State and determine whether a rational trier of fact could have found the elements

of the enhancement beyond a reasonable doubt. Lopez v. State, 600 S.W.3d 43, 45 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2020); Wood v. State, 486 S.W.3d 583, 589 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). To prove

a prior conviction for enhancement, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that

(1) a prior conviction exists, and (2) the defendant is linked to that conviction. Flowers v.

State, 220 S.W.3d 919, 921 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007); see also Medrano v. State, No. 13-

17-00150-CR, 2018 WL 2252888, at *2 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg May 17,

2018, no pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication).

Here, the State presented three enhancement paragraphs in the indictment:

And it is further presented in and to said Court that, prior to the commission

of the aforesaid offense the Defendant was finally convicted of the following

felonies pursuant to Section 12.42 & 12.425 Texas Penal Code and article

42.12 Sec 4 (d)&(e) Texas Code of Criminal Procedure in that:

1. On the 15th day of December, A.D., 1999, in cause number 99-4-

17,693-D in the 377th Judicial District Court of Victoria County Texas,

JOHNNY MACK DURHAM, JR., was finally convicted of UNLAWFUL

DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE in Penalty Group 1 in

violation of HSC §481.112(c), a Second Degree Felony offense committed

or arrested on 25th day of May, A.D., 1999;

2. On the 16th day of November, A.D., 2007, in cause number

32068CR in the 40th Judicial District Court of Ellis County Texas, the

defendant, JOHNNY MACK DURHAM, JR., A/K/A ROBERT ALLEN

SUTTON, was finally convicted of INJURY TO AN ELDERLY PERSON in

violation of PC §22.04, a Second Degree Felony offense committed or

arrested on 7th day of May, A.D., 2007;
27

3. On the 18th day of January, A.D., 2011, in cause number 10-9-

25409-D in the 377th Judicial District Court of Victoria County Texas, the

defendant, JOHNNY MACK DURHAM, JR., was finally convicted of

UNLAWFUL DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE in Penalty

Group 1 in violation of HSC §481.112(c), a Second Degree Felony offense

committed or arrested on 26th day of May, A.D., 2010.

At trial, however, the State proceeded only on the two controlled substance enhancement

paragraphs. The injury to an elderly person enhancement paragraph did not appear in

the jury charge; thus, the jury did not enter an affirmative finding that Durham had been

convicted of injury to an elderly person.

On appeal, Durham does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support 

either of the submitted enhancement paragraphs, both of which the jury found to be true.

Instead, Durham argues that he was not convicted of the offense of injury to an elderly

person and the State did not offer sufficient evidence to prove he committed the offense.

Therefore, Durham’s complaint is of no consequence. We overrule Durham’s sixth issue.

VIII. CONCLUSION

We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

GREGORY T. PERKES

Justice

Do not publish.

TEX. R. APP. P. 47.2(b).

Delivered and filed the

29th day of October, 2020.